Why Etcheverry's Love Of Roland Garros Goes Beyond Tennis

Tomás Etcheverry couldn’t be more excited about this Roland Garros. The Argentine is enjoying himself like few others in Paris, and not only because the clay-court major is a special tournament for him and the place where he always dreamed of playing.

On Saturday, after sealing his passage to the fourth round for the first time at a major, Etcheverry embraced his grandparents, Eduardo and Ana, who made the trip to the French capital to watch their grandson.

Two years ago, when Etcheverry played in his first Roland Garros as a professional and, then Wimbledon, the Argentine kept his accreditations for both and gave them to his grandparents as a gift because they used to take him to junior events.

“To me, giving them a moment like that is wonderful for them. For my family, my friends and everyone who has always been there,” Etcheverry said. "It’s an incredible feeling. I prepared for this, I sought it out and I think I’m playing great matches."

^{Argentines Francisco Cerundolo and Etcheverry are both into the second week in Paris. Photo: Amélie Laurin/FFT}
As if he didn’t already have enough connections with this tournament, when Etcheverry was 10 years old, a new household pet arrived and he decided to call it Roland Garros. Everyone calls the dog “Rola”.

Since breaking into the Top 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in April 2022, Etcheverry has started to establish himself. This year he reached his first two ATP Tour finals in Santiago and Houston, and he feels that he is finally reaping the rewards of his hard work. He faced Novak Djokovic in Rome and is enjoying his best run yet in Paris.

“I was a bit angry after that match with Nole, I felt like I wasn’t as aggressive as I should have been. I let several games slip away, I should have played much simpler in a number of points,” Etcheverry said. “But you always learn something when you’re on the opposite side of the net to Djokovic.”

[BREAK POINT]

If there is one thing the 23-year-old Argentine is sure of, it is the fact that his journey on the biggest stages in his sport is just beginning and he has still not reached his limit.

Etcheverry admits that he arrived in Paris with high expectations and he is not afraid to say it out loud. “The draw is wide open. I played three matches here and I won them without losing a set. I haven’t spent many hours on court and I’m physically well prepared for the second week,” explained the pupil of Wally Grinovero, who previously worked with Jack Draper, Álex De Miñaur and Borna Coric.

“The second week was always my initial goal, but now I’m taking it day by day, I’ll give 100 per cent whoever I’m playing. If it comes off that’s great and if it doesn’t, I know I’m on the right path... Djokovic and Alcaraz are at the top, that’s the reality. It’s a more open Roland Garros,” added Etcheverry who will next take on Japanese lefty Yoshihito Nishioka.

What is he hoping for from the coming days in Paris? “Now I’m going to keep enjoying myself and I’m all in," he said. Etcheverry is still having the time of his life at Roland Garros, and he has plenty of reasons to do so.

Editor's note: This story was translated from ATPTour.com/es.